Ch.1

The kettle is hissing and the door is rattling. Baba Nowruz is taking an afternoon nap while the rain continuously knocks on the windows to wake him up. It’s time to prepare for tonight’s party.

“Um, who’s there?” Baba murmurs before opening his eyes.

“No-one! It’s just the rain.” Banoo, Baba’s best friend and wife, responds.

Baba gets up quickly and shouts, “What a lovely day!” He kisses Banoo on the cheek.


There’s a big rectangular chocolate cake on the table. Baba and Banoo made it together in the morning. They’re so proud that their six-hour effort hasn’t been in vain.

“I can’t wait anymore. I want to eat up the whole cake.” Baba says with a big smile on his face.

“But you know we must wait for our guests, my darling. Don’t touch the cake, or I’ll bite your fingers.” Banoo grins.

The digital clock on the table shows 18:32. Baba is impatient and thrilled to kick off the party. He’s a 40-year-old man who never gets tired of partying and having fun with friends.


“Sweetheart, someone is ringing the bell. I’ll open the door.” Baba hurries to the front door. Sara and Mona are standing out there holding their black and white umbrellas.

“Come in! Come in!” Baba welcomes the girls. Today is Mona’s birthday. She turns sixteen. Since Baba and Banoo can’t have their own children, they’ve always been fond of spending time with neighbors’ lovely daughters.

“Oh my God! What a beautiful cake! Chocolate cake is my second favorite thing in this world!” Mona gets emotional.

“What’s the first one, Mona?” Sara asks.

“Didn’t I tell you before? It’s the rain with that mesmerizing scent of soil on rainy days.”


Baba turns on the music, pours tea into the mugs, and invites everyone to sit and try the cake.

“Yum! This is delish!” Sara asks for a second piece.

“This is the best cake I’ve ever had. Thank you so much!” Mona feels over the moon.

After having cake, it’s time to dance. Girls are excellent at dancing, but Baba is somehow exercising by moving his hands up and down and jumping from here to there like a rabbit.


The party ends at nine-thirty. The girls hug and thank Baba and Banoo for being nice and friendly like usual and leave for a late-night celebration with friends.

“Do we have to go to bed early tonight?” Baba asks Banoo like a 13-year-old boy.

“What’s on your mind, naughty boy? Tell me!” Banoo smiles.

“Let’s practice dancing for a few minutes. I know I already dance quite well, but I’m always open to new techniques.”

Banoo bursts into laughter. “Sure! Sure! Why not? We can dance the entire night.”

The couple take each other’s hands and float like swans in the living room. December 22 becomes an unforgettable day for both.